The Main Directorate for Combating Cybercrime of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs has detained a group of individuals accused of illegally reselling tickets for the upcoming UEFA Champions League match between Qarabağ FK and Chelsea FC, scheduled for November 5 at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in Baku.
According to the ministry’s press service, cyber police identified and arrested Emil Dadashov, Javid Dadashov, Rashad Hasanov, Murad Mirkishiev, and Vusal Zalov, who allegedly bought multiple tickets both online and from official outlets before attempting to resell them at inflated prices via social media and black-market platforms.
Investigators found that the group exploited limited ticket availability and high public demand for the match to profit from illegal sales. Law enforcement officials said appropriate legal measures have been taken, and operations to identify other offenders are ongoing.
“We once again urge citizens who wish to attend international sporting events in Azerbaijan to purchase tickets only through official sales channels,”
the ministry stated. “Those who buy tickets from unverified social media pages or other unauthorized sources risk becoming victims of fraud.”
Authorities have reiterated that online ticket fraud remains one of the most common digital offenses during major sporting events, warning that reselling tickets without authorization is punishable under Azerbaijani law.
The Qarabağ–Chelsea match has drawn intense interest among local football fans, with tickets selling out within hours of release.
The incident highlights the ongoing challenges of digital ticket control and consumer protection in Azerbaijan’s rapidly expanding sports event market.
